Sharks Top Admirals 4-3 in Second Straight Win against Norfolk

Published on February 21, 2015 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


Worcester, MA - The Worcester Sharks (28-17-4-2, 62pts) topped the Norfolk Admirals (21-26-3-3, 48pts) for the second consecutive night in front of 5,286 fans at the DCU Center on Saturday evening during Heroes Night, presented by Unum to benefit Habitat for Humanity. During the game, Sharks' players sported camouflage jerseys, as all military, police and fire, and first responders received complimentary tickets to the AHL hockey action.

Four Worcester players scored, including Matt Taormina (1-0-1, + 1), Ryan Carpenter (1-1-2, +1), Willie Coetzee (1-0-1, 0), and Trevor Parkes (1-0-1, +1) in the 4-3 victory over Norfolk. Troy Grosenick started in his first game since the 17th of January, picking up his 16th win and making 26 saves on 29 shots. The Sharks have won eight of their last nine games on home ice. Worcester is 3-1-0-0 against Norfolk, as this marks their last game against the Admirals this season.

Norfolk began the scoring at 9:40 of the first period when forward Charles Sarault (4th) ripped a slapshot from the left circle on a breakaway that snuck over the stick of Worcester's goaltender Troy Grosenick, giving the Admirals a 1-0 lead. The Sharks would answer at the 15:33 mark when Sharks' defenseman Matt Taormina (8th) fired the puck from the left point to knot the game at 1 a side. With just over two minutes left in the first frame, a multi-player skirmish broke out in front of the Admirals' net after Norfolk's defenseman Andrew O'Brien high-sticked Worcester's veteran forward John McCarthy, resulting in penalties for both sides. Grosenick made 9 saves on the 10 shots that he saw as Worcester outshot Norfolk 12-10. The score remained 1-1 heading into the first intermission.

Worcester took a 2-1 lead at the 4:51 mark of the second period when right winger Ryan Carpenter (9th) unleashed a backhander after a solid feed from McCarthy, beating the sprawling Admirals' netminder, Jason LaBarbera. That would be the lone goal of the period as the Sharks outshot the Admirals 11-9 in the second frame, holding the 2-1 lead through forty minutes.

The Admirals tied the game up at 8:49 of the third period when William Karlsson fed the puck across the slot to Stefan Noesson (2nd), who beat Grosenick glove side to even the score at 2. At 13:16 of the third period, Worcester regained the lead when Willie Coetzee (6th) ripped the puck from the top of the right circle, finding the back of the net to make it 3-2. Forty-three seconds later, the Sharks would add an insurance goal when Trevor Parkes (3rd) pushed one past LaBarbera in front of the net to make it 4-2 Worcester. Admirals' defenseman Mark Fistric (1st) got Norfolk within one after he slung one past Grosenick from the top of the right circle to make it 4-3 Sharks. The Sharks would hold on for the 4-3 victory, outshooting the Admirals 32-29 in the game, as Grosenick made 26 saves, earning his 16 win of the season in his return.

The Sharks overall record improves to 28-17-4-2, 62pts and 16-7-2-1, 35pts at the DCU Center this season.

Notes: Three Stars: 3rd star: William Karlsson (0-2-2, +1) 2nd star: Willie Coetzee (1-0-1, 0) 1st star: Ryan Carpenter (1-1-2, +1) ... Final shots were 32-29 in favor of Worcester ... LaBarbera made 28 saves on 32 shots for Norfolk...Troy Grosenick made 26 saves on 29 shots for Worcester...Norfolk went 0-for-2 on the power play while Worcester went 0-for-3... Langlois (injured), Crane, Emanuelsson (injured), Bonneau did not dress tonight for Worcester....Troy Grosenick (26 saves, 16th win of season) started in net for the first time since January 17 - Troy has won seven straight starts.....Evan Trupp (1-4-5) has a four-game point streak, Travis Oleksuk (2-4-6) four games, and Trevor Parkes (3-1-4) four games... The Sharks have won 8 of their last 9 games at the DCU Center and are 6-3-1-0 in their last ten.

COMING UP :

On Sunday, the Sharks travel to Manchester to battle the Monarchs at 3pm.

You can listen to every game live on WTAG Worcester or watch online for a small fee at www.AHLLive.com.

BIG PROMOTION ALERT:

Next Saturday (Feb. 28th), Patriots' Running back and Super Bowl Champion, #35 Jonas Gray, will be at the DCU Center to sign autographs (presented by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Special Olympics of Massachusetts Night) as the Sharks takes on the St. John's IceCaps at 7 p.m.

Worcester celebrates 20 years of AHL hockey!

The 2014-15 season marks the 20th season of AHL action at the DCU Center in the city of Worcester. Over 3.8 million fans have attended either an IceCats (11 seasons) or Sharks (9th season) game in downtown Worcester since 1994.



American Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2015


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